Hitze Sicher/Worms

Developing and implementing a heat action plan for the city of Worms (DE)

Due to climate change, heat extremes are increasingly expected. This increase in heat waves leads to an increased risk for the environment and people, especially for vulnerable population groups. In order to face up to this impact of climate change, the city of Worms, Germany, is developing a heat action plan as part of the project “Hitze Sicher/Worms”.The goal is to protect the population and reduce morbidity and mortality rates during heat waves.

The project pursues a participatory approach and involves experts from the administration, fire department, emergency services, relief organisations as well as from the fields of health care, nursing, schools, kindergartens and building cooperatives in the development and implementation of a heat action plan. Measures are dividedd into three categories: short, medium and long-term.

  • Short-term measures: Development of a plan of action describing early-warning mechanisms, communication chains and special measures for a severe heat event based on the heat warning service of the German Weather Service. These measures are aimed at local stakeholders who – directly or indirectly – work with or are in touch with people from vulnerable population groups. In addition, the public will be comprehensively informed about the plan of action.  
  • Mid-term measures: In early summer and over the summer months, the focus is on building local networks and training stakeholders. Multipliers in the city of Worms who deal with heat-vulnerable population groups will be trained in the action plans.
  • Long-term measures: Development of long-term strategies and action plans in order to increase heat resistence with regard to the building sector and urban planning.

Climate Alliance is actively involved in the project as a network partner and coordinates the identification of heat-vulnerable areas in the city of Worms, stakeholder involvement and network building as well as public relations. Further project partners are the City of Worms, Hochschule Fulda, University Hospital Munich and the Rhineland-Palatinate Competence Centre for Climate Change Impacts.

Project funding period: August 2020 – December 2022
via the German Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) on the basis of a resolution of the German Bundestag within the framework of the BMU programme “Adaptation to Climate Change“ with the focus on „Municipal Lighthouse Projects“ with the funding code 67DAS206A

Want to learn more? Contact Wolfgang Hofstetter at w.hofstetter(at)climatealliance.org 

hitze-worms-events.de

Further information